Agenda item

A deputation was accepted in relation to Item 11: Tottenham Strategic Regeneration Framework Delivery Plan, from Mr Philip Udeh of the ‘Our Totteham Network’.

Mr Udeh began by noting that the Our Tottenham Network was an umbrella group covering over forty-five local community organisations. In April 2013 the network had brought together these groups and formulated and adopted a Community Charter for Tottenham, which was followed in February 2014, by a conference to promote community planning.

Mr Udeh noted that the network wanted to see improvements for the existing residents of Tottenham and community empowerment and he contended that the Council’s approach to the development of Tottenham would see large numbers of people priced out of their neighbourhoods. Mr Udeh noted that the network welcomed recommendations within the Tottenham Future report with respect to the expansion of social and affordable housing, defending small businesses and social and community facilities and community engagement and empowerment; however, he considered that the Council had not fully taken on board these points in its approach to the regeneration of Tottenham.

In conclusion Mr Udeh noted that the network considered that the Council could improve its approach by committing to five ‘quick wins’ including; implementing the Wards Corner Coalition’s community plan; scrapping proposals for demolition at High Road West and the creation of a ‘Spurs walkway’ and creating new plans in partnership with local traders and residents; improving, rather than demolishing, existing Council estates; extending the leases of community run community centres and committing to no evictions and; expanding health related services from the St Ann’s Hospital site.

In addition Mr  Burnham, also of the Our Tottenham Network and Haringey Defend Council Housing, contended that the Council’s approach to development was overly influenced by private developers and that the emphasis on working with private developers meant that existing residents and Council tenants would eventually be priced out of the area.  Changes to Council tenants’ leases and the demolition of Council housing were not welcomed and Mr Burnham contended that the Council should be improving and investing in existing homes and facilities rather than demolishing homes.

A statement was also tabled by Patricia Pearcy, Co-Vice Chair of the Tottenham Business Group, which called on the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration to explore options that would retain existing shops and businesses in area before the next phase of consultation began. The statement also noted that a petition had been signed by four thousand residents against demolition in the area and urged that the weight of opinion in relation to this was considered.

The Leader of the Council thanked the Our Tottenham Network for its deputation and asked how the network had gauged public support for the five ‘quick wins’ outlined. In response it was noted that the petition referred to by Ms Pearcy demonstrated that residents were against demolition and changes to High Road West.

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing, Councillor Alan Strickland, formally responded to the deputation and began by thanking Mr Udeh and other members of the Our Tottenham Network for attending the meeting and outlining their concerns.  He noted that Tottenham Future report had marked a changed in the way that the Council consulted with residents and noted that issues highlighted by residents within this, such as creating the right mix of housing, had been taken on board.

Councillor Strickland noted that extensive consultation with the residents of the Love Lane estate and High Road West had taken place over a two year period and that this had included meetings with individuals, resident and traders groups and door knocking. He noted that the Council’s priority on housing was to support existing residents and was not, as suggested, intended to displace people or price people out of the area. With regard to the use of community centres Councillor Strickland noted that the Council wanted to expand the opportunities that these provided to local residents in the most efficient way.

With regard to the St Ann’s Hospital site Councillor Strickland noted that the Mental Health Trust (MHT) had submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of the site and that this would now be subject to the planning process. The intention of the MHT was to realise the potential on unused land in order to enable it to invest in services.